7 Fatal Errors Sales Managers Must Avoid

Are you a sales manager? You need to know this. Research shows that at least 82% of managers fail in any profession. In sales, it is higher than that. Why? The risks and rewards are higher. Have you heard the saying, “Sales is the lowest paid easy work and the highest paid hard work.” For sales management it is true as well.

Why do sales managers, and sales executives fail? What do we mean by fail? The easy answer is that sales decline or do not exceed the established objectives. Did you know that your sales results may be reaching your objectives and you could be failing? Here is an examples. A sales manager I knew came up to me and told me he had “lit a fire” under is team. I replied, “How did you do it?” He said that in a meeting he told them if they did not sell X amount by the end of the month they were fired. Now, that is an all-time great motivational speech, isn’t it? Just kidding. Guess who was fired? He was.

In another example, a sales manager had a reputation for being tough and no-nonsense. While he always seemed to make his goals, he had a revolving door of people on his team. After a couple of years, he was let go. A new sales manager came in and results skyrocketed. Regardless of your leadership style there are seven fatal errors sales leaders make, which ones fit you?

4 Key Fatal Errors Sales Managers Must Avoid

Focus on Obstacles not Objectives

Many sales leaders forget a fundamental prerequisite for high performance and that’s clear expectations, goals, and plans. Set goals as a team and with each individual rep and as you do, so shall they become. Make sure you review these goals and plans regularly, too. Do not wait for your boss to bring you issues. Take initiative; be proactive.

Lack of Accountability

Many manager’s talk about this in terms of the sales team. The truth is as Harry Truman said, “The buck stops here.” In other words, the sales manager is the ultimately responsible for results. No excuses. Complaining about or blaming the economy, customers, competition, products, reps, or upper management does not cut it. Remember this adage, “If you want your people to be better you have to be better.”

Lack of Training

With the high probability of rejection and failure sales reps need on-going training and support to sustain wins. Far too many managers do no training or maybe an annual session at the beginning of the year. The best sales managers are the best trainers. This means one on one and in a group with live role-playing and practice. This needs to be done week in and week out.

Lack of Coaching

It has been said you can never find a manager when you need one. Poor sales managers pound out report after report from behind a computer. While you need to analyze results, you need to coach even more. Make coaching a priority. Learn to become a superb coach. Get in the field, do one on ones in your office. Discover the power of phone and email coaching as well.

3 More Fatal Errors Sales Managers Must Eliminate

Set low standards

In this world today it is inexcusable to focus on mediocrity. Without communicating what you want and coaching your team to want it more, you are doomed to be an also ran. Benchmark your industry and competition and learn the strategies of the best. Then set your standards high. Could you image famed football coaches Vince Lombardi or Bill Belichick telling their teams, “Let’s just have a winning season.” Winning a few sales is not enough to lead the pack.

Recognize only top performers

The top performers will always gain whatever incentives for glory you provide. All others may win sometimes. Everyone needs a day-to-day pat on the back. Your job as a sales leader is to build-up your team so all of them achieve more than they thought possible. Praise for a job well done or improvement is one of the ways to do that. Praise everyone genuinely.

No Innovation

You must try new things. Too many mediocre sales managers keep dosing the same things. It is insanity. So, innovate. Get ideas for colleagues. Read some books. Talk to your marketing team. Get input from your sales team. Study customer analysis reports.

Pulling It All Together

Leaders who lack creativity in their leadership styles, end up doing business the “same old, same old” way all the time. Most sales teams I know work long and hard. With the time put in why not spice it up or change the pace or have some fun occasionally. One sales manager we knew asked each rep what they really wanted to buy-personally. He then set goals for each rep to win in it. They had a huge quarter.

Certainly, there are other contributors to failure. While you may not win all the time, the best sales managers are remarkably consistent in their efforts. They avoid the mistakes above by continuous improvement in their efforts. They improve their game by listening to others, attending seminars, and collaborating with their team. Superstar sales leaders achieve success by emulating the best and working hard to become better leaders.

Also, go here for our RealTime Learning & Training leadership and personal development website. Micro-learning and career advancement at your fingertips!

By the way, as a sales manager do you want to learn more about employee engagement, motivation?  If so, I suggest you check out our book: Superstar Leadership.

Finally, check out our game changing Superstar Sales book.